The Portland daily press., 1887-10-15
THE STRIKE AT CROTON
GORGE.
By HELEN FOREST GRAVES.
Saturday Night.1

tlmd way that the big girls and the rebel
hous boys at once jumped to the conclusion
that she would be conquered at once in her
capacity of "school-ma am"
They discovered their mistake. however.
In very brief period of time. Miss Allen
might be quiet, but she had the spirit of a
Joan Of Arc. She reduced her little flock TO
order. and she kept them there, too
Mrs. Binns, who presided over the Gorge
House, also bore testimony In behalf of Are
thusa Allen.
Il didn't s'pose when first see her, that
she would amount to a row of pins" said
Mrs. Binns, who weighed three hundred
pounds ard stood five feet eight in her
stockings. "a slim, schoolgirl lookin' cree
tnr like thatl And hadn't room to spare
and | didn't see how could possibly accom-
modate her. But she spoke up so pretty-like
that she hadn't no friends and didn't know
where to go, so says l: If you don't mind
room over the laundry, l can clear out
some of the stores and put up cot-bed till
the season is over. It's a noisy place, day
times says l. with them Chinese cacklin'
and screechin,' but it's still and peaceable of
nights. And if } ou'll help me make out the
bills and keep the accounts, Miss Allen saws
/, III consider it in your board, for l amt
no scholar and never was.'"
Mrs. Binns was an ungalnly creature to
look at, but she was as beautiful at heart as
the Venus di Medicis self, and Arethusa
soon felt herself at home in the little room
over the laundry. whose windows looked out
at the thread-like fall of silver cascade and
the nnfafh hIa oln Of fha e. H.
yond. For Groton Gorge was as lovely
place as ever leaned from mountain-plateau
over the misty valley low; and the Groton
House was full of city boarders
Nor was the domestic-staff contemplate.
Mrs. Binns had all her servants from the
city during the summer-season and to all
appearances everything went on velvet
But one foggy August morning Mrs Binns
awakened to find herself racked in every
joint by acute rheumatism, and utterly inca
pable of moving.
She sent for Mrs. Mackenzie, the cook, to
give the days orders: but Mrs. Mackenzie
did not wait to hear about roasting chickens
and joints of spring lamb before she began
on her own account:
Sorry to inconvenience you, ma'am," said
Mrs. Mackenzie, with her arms akimho;
''but we ladies and gentlemen down stairs
have concluded to ask for an increase of
salary. And until you have conceded to our
demands we shall be impelled to resist from
work"
Mrs. Binns opened her eyes wide.
Amt payin' you good wages already?"
said she. "And / can't afford to pay no
more-not cent"
Mrs. Mackenzie took roll of paper out of
her apron pocket and opened it,
Il have here, ma'am." said she, pursuing
up her thin lips, "the signatures of all the
ladies and gents at present assistin' in the
mediterranean regises down stairs, includ-
ing the four walters of the colored gender.
and the two washer-laundries; and we won't
none of us agree to stay another hour
without you'll agree in commentary writin,
am, to raise our Salaries
And Mrs. Mackenzie tossed her head in
spiteful satisfaction.
Mrs. Binns sank back on her pillows.
Il can't give no answer" said she mot
with this pain in my bones. Send Miss Are
thusa Allen to me, please"
"Oh, certainly, ma'am, certainlyi' said
the cook, rising. Sorry you feel so poorly.
But you'll bear in mind, lam, that we
shall expect an answer Immediate"
And Mrs. Mackenzie withdrew.
Presently Arethusa Allen came in-for, as
1t CHANGED, the district school had closed
week previously, for the summer vacation
and found Mrs. Binns dissolved in tears.
What is it, dear Mrs. Binns?" said Are
thusa.
1.-The help has all struck for higher wa
gesl' cried Mrs Binns. Sand I'm paying
'em more than can afford now And all
the prices of provisions have riz, and may
as we'll close the place at once. Oh, Are
thusa, my head aches so l can't Think
What shall do? Tell me--there's dear!"
Nothing" said Arethusa, quietly "Just
lie down again and let me send for the doc
tor"
but the boarders and the dinner?"
''Pll see to that" said Arethusa. "Trust
me, and all shall be right Those people
down stairs have been growing idler and
more domineering and inefficient, every day
and now they want you to pay them more
money for doing less work There must be
an end to this. You empower me with full
authority"
Mrs. Blnns sent for the cook.
MRS. Mackenzie" said she, 81 am too
sick to parley with you, but Miss Allen will
represent me fully. What she says, say"
And she lay down and turned her face to
the wall, with shut eyes, as if she washed
her hands of the whole concern; while Mrs.
Mackenzie bridled and turned to the slim.
young school teacher, whom in her heart
she secretly despised ''as no better than
servant herself, with all them airs and
graces of hern."
swell, Miss Allen" said she, "what's
your mind on the subject? The sooner the
question is settled the better for all parties
We amt going to stand her imposition
Whatever idea Arethusq might have en-
tertained as to compromise was thoroughly
banished by the cool insolence Of this last
remark.
"You may CO." said she.
"Hey" said Mrs Mackenzie, bristling I'D
like sitting hen.
Il decline to entertain your proposal"
said Arethusa, calmly. Pack up your things
all Of you, and leave the house at once. If
you are expeditions you may succeed in tax
ing the noon train that stops at the Gorge"
AS she paid their wages out Of Mrs Binns'
cherry-wood secretary, and discharged them,
as the good lady afterward remarked, "horse,
foot and Dragons"
Then she called convention of the board.
ers and told the tale
If you won't mind dinner of cold lamb
and lettuce to-day" she said, with dessert
OF snow.pudding, that can make myself, /
will promise you something more elaborate
tomorrow"
And they all cheerfully consented.
John, the stable-boy was the only adherent
left, and he harnessed up the horses and
drove Miss Allen down the mountain-side to
farmhouse, where lived Mrs. Beasley, the
mother of the big boy who had been the
school-ma'am's worst enemy at first and her
faithful ally ever afterward
Mrs. Beasley," said Arethusa, 81 want to
borrow your two daughtersp'
''Bless me. Miss Arethusal'' said the good
woman, "what for?'
ITO help me at the Gorge House," and
Arethusa told her story. Joanna and Fam
ny are quick, smart girls. I'll pay them a
dollar and half week to act as mattresses"
They'd oblige you, Miss Arethusa, cheer